Malik Nabers’s Torn ACL Rekindles NFL’s Grass vs. Turf Debate

Giants star second-year receiver Malik Nabers will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, which has reignited the longstanding debate over artificial vs. natural grass playing surfaces in the NFL.

On Monday, an MRI confirmed Nabers tore his ACL on Sunday during New York’s first win of the season, a 21–18 victory over the previously undefeated Chargers at MetLife Stadium, which is one of 15 NFL stadiums (out of 30) that have artificial turf. Nabers was battling Los Angeles cornerback Cam Hart for a contested catch in the second quarter when he injured his knee, but there was no significant contact or a huge hit that caused the injury.

On Sunday evening, former Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. posted a message to X/Twitter asking the NFL to move away from artificial surfaces, particularly criticizing MetLife Stadium’s field, where he played the first five seasons of his career (2014–18). The two-time All-Pro noted the NFL takes “all the precautions in the world” relating to player health and safety, and he called for the league to “get rid of the turf.”

Beckham also referred to the New Jersey stadium as “DeathLife,” saying it had “taken too many talented players away from the game.” MetLife Stadium is also where Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles while making his Jets debut in 2023, and where several other players have sustained non-contact season-ending injuries. Beckham tore his ACL in 2020 while playing for the Browns, during a game against the Bengals in Cincinnati on artificial turf.

Soccer Status

The NFL’s turf wars figure to heat up next summer, when several venues around the league will temporarily install natural grass to host FIFA men’s World Cup matches, and then reinstall their artificial surfaces ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

This summer, many of those same stadiums installed grass for the FIFA Club World Cup, only to return to turf for this NFL season.

Using an artificial playing surface is largely seen as a cost-saving move, especially for NFL venues that also have concerts and other non-sporting events on a regular basis. In 2023, Broncos owners famously paid $400,000 to install a new grass field just for their season finale.

Last year, Falcons owner Arthur Blank told Front Office Sports that the league spends “a tremendous amount of time and money to make sure the fields—whether they be natural grass or synthetic” are safe. In February, now-former NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell told FOS the turf vs. grass debate was “never going to disappear.”